[369] MTSU students tackle Murfreesboro homelessness on ‘MTSU On the Record’

MURFREESBORO — MTSU students are helping devise a better way for Murfreesboro to help the homeless, which is the topic on the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Michael Sherr, chair of the Department of Social Work, will air from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, and from 6 to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 2, on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

Sherr and his students are partnering with the city of Murfreesboro to investigate the concept of a centralized campus where social service agencies could establish satellite offices, creating a “one-stop” environment for many types of assistance.

Coordinating with the Homeless Alliance of Rutherford County, the MTSU contingent hopes to have a proposal to present to the City Council in May. One graduate student and two undergraduate students have been working with Sherr since January on the project.

Funded with a $15,000 grant from the city, the social work majors are gaining valuable internship experience at The Journey Home, 308 W. Castle St., working 20 to 25 hours per week each week with homeless individuals.

“The problem is getting worse,” said Sherr. “The city is getting bigger … There are enough people, enough stakeholders from different parts of our community that need and want to make something happen.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to http://bit.ly/mtsu-otr.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.